straw bale gardening not looking good

I am trying straw bale gardening due to poor soil. So far I put in tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and collards. The bales were wet and aged two weeks or more. The plants aren't looking good. Several tomatoes died and most of the plants are turning yellow. I have fertilized with miracle grow. Not looking like a great idea so far.

Comments for
straw bale gardening not looking good

Click here to add your own comments

Jun 30, 2009

Straw bale gardening
by: Anonymous

This is my first time gardening in straw bales too. How often have your watered your vegetables planted in the straw bales? From what I've read straw bales don't hold moisture and thus dry out quicker than regular soil so you may need to water more often. Depending upon sun exposure and air temp your straw bales may need to be watered two or three times a day. I've also read that wrapping landscape fabric around the bales helps keep the moisture from evaporating so quickly.
For my bales I have a drip irrigation system on a battery powered timer. Each plant has its own little dripper so the water goes right to its roots.
Good luck!

Jul 09, 2009

Straw bale gardening
by: Megan

Your straw bale garden plants really need lots of food and water. Those vegetables you're growing are all big feeders, so will need a liquid fertilizer about every week or two at least.

Miracle Grow does do an organic fertilizer now, but previously it was chemicals – to be avoided. Compost tea, worm tea, liquid seaweed are all good organic fertilizers to use to boost growth on fast growing vegetables.

When starting off with straw bale gardening, it's important to have a good dollop of compost/soil to plant or sow your plants or seeds in initially. Straw bales are fun and absolutely interesting and productive — if you do it right. You have to be much more diligent with watering for a start.

Possibly your straw bales did a 'hot' compost on you? This can kill plant roots. Have a read of the Straw bale gardening page here.

Mar 29, 2010

Composting?
by: Mary in NC

Your bales may still be too hot inside due to their composting. Don't plant until the inside is about your temperature....work your hand down into the bale and if it's hotter than your hand, wait! You need to water almost daily maybe 2 times a day in the hottest driest days, and you need to add some fertilizer along during the growing season such as a compost or manure tea or a product like Plant Tone. Hope you try it again this year, mine looks awesome already!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Organic garden problems

Back to HOME page: No Dig Vegetable Garden